Do any of your kids Ride? (horses)

[missyny]

Evelyn just completed a week long summer camp at an English style riding camp and LOVVVVVVED it!

I have questions, though.

anyone else's kid(s) do this?

tia!

[4speedy]

My 6 yo has been taking lessons for a year. What did you want to know?

[missyny]

Aug 24, 2012 14:51:52 GMT -5 4speedy said:

My 6 yo has been taking lessons for a year. What did you want to know?

English or Western?

I was wondering what the lessons actually entail and what other costs/fees you pay besides the lessons (if any) What is the cost per hour/half hour?
For the place i'm looking into, they say $35/half hour. Is that reasonable sounding to you? also, does your daughter need the helmet and riding pants, etc...? How much is all of that stuff?

tia!

[copperpenny]

Aug 24, 2012 14:56:44 GMT -5 missyny said:

Aug 24, 2012 14:51:52 GMT -5 4speedy said:

My 6 yo has been taking lessons for a year. What did you want to know?

English or Western?

I was wondering what the lessons actually entail and what other costs/fees you pay besides the lessons (if any) What is the cost per hour/half hour?
For the place i'm looking into, they say $35/half hour. Is that reasonable sounding to you? also, does your daughter need the helmet and riding pants, etc...? How much is all of that stuff?

tia!

As a lurker/sometimes poster and former riding instructor, I ma be able to help. $35 sounds reasonable for a private half hour lesson. I would definitely buy a helmet and paddock boots. You can usually find kid's sizes on consignment at a local tack shop since they outgrow them so fast. I would wait to see if your daughter sticks with it for a few months before buying too much.

My other advice would be to watch a few other lessons to get a feel for the barn's trainers and safety.

[rodeored]

I don't have kids that ride but I did grow up with horses so I might be able to contribute.

$35/ half hour doesn't sound too bad but it really depends on where you are/the level of the barn. They may provide a helmet but I would definitely get her one of her own. It is important that it fits well and you want to know if it has been in an accident. Anytime you come off and hit your head you are supposed to replace the helmet.

You might want to ask if the barn has a dress code as that will determine what you might have to buy. She will definitely need a heeled boot, they are called paddock boots. Breeches are probably needed as well, they come with knee patches which might help her seat (aka stay on).

Here is a popular website for english riders, it should help you get an idea of price:

www.doversaddlery.com/

You might be able to find older girls from the barn that have riding stuff they have outgrown. When I was in 4-H we had tack swaps that you could usually find clothing at.

[missyny]

Aug 24, 2012 15:06:13 GMT -5 copperpenny said:

Aug 24, 2012 14:56:44 GMT -5 missyny said:

English or Western?

I was wondering what the lessons actually entail and what other costs/fees you pay besides the lessons (if any) What is the cost per hour/half hour?
For the place i'm looking into, they say $35/half hour. Is that reasonable sounding to you? also, does your daughter need the helmet and riding pants, etc...? How much is all of that stuff?

tia!

As a lurker/sometimes poster and former riding instructor, I ma be able to help. $35 sounds reasonable for a private half hour lesson. I would definitely buy a helmet and paddock boots. You can usually find kid's sizes on consignment at a local tack shop since they outgrow them so fast. I would wait to see if your daughter sticks with it for a few months before buying too much.

My other advice would be to watch a few other lessons to get a feel for the barn's trainers and safety.

oh, great info on the consignment! thanks!!!
I know the place i'm looking at has a good reputation, but how do i know what the barn is rated? What does "top barn" mean? The instructor's credentials seem impressive to me, but wth do i know? lol!!

[troopersmom]

One week of horse camp turned into 15 years of horse showing, pony club, and a love for horses. I agree get her her own helmet, buy some used boots and either jeans or breeches. How old is she I started at five.

[missyny]

She just turned 6 last weekend!

[missyny]

um.

i don't even know what 'tack' is!? hahahaaaa

is that a slang for something?

[Amy]

tack = saddles, bridles and such - I would just be sure you know what you are getting into - I started english lessons at 7 and showed on a national circuit until I was 25 - it get's very expensive - you might want to stick with a reputable barn that does more 'fun shows' and local 4-H type stuff which is great and fun and teaches them a lot without putting them on a path to making this their whole world (unless you are ok with that of course!)

[missyny]

What does one do when showing on a National Circuit?

[Amy]

I had a couple of horse with various trainers and was on the road 2-3 weekends a month all over the country competing - I was president of the national association I was part of so I was super involved - it was intense - I could never begin to afford it for my kid now

[Amy]

Aug 24, 2012 15:29:39 GMT -5 @callmefia said:

Also, about the barn. Pay attention to how they treat the horses. A lot of times the kid barns are not really that great and the teachers are just pumping kids through without really teaching anything and while giving sub-par care to the horses. Note safety with the kids and horses too. They should require all children to wear a helmet (if not, RUN!). Horses shouldn't have lots of visible cuts, bruises, scabbing etc. Note if there are a lot of flies - where is the manure pile, is it kept away from the barn? Are the stalls relatively clean and well bedded? Do you see ribs on a lot of horses (don't get too upset, some horses carry weight differently, but pay attention in general are they ALL skinny?). Where do they store the hay - is it in the same barn the horses are kept? Sometimes thats a big fire risk. Do they have fire extinguishers nearby and handy? You should know and be prepared to operate one. What is the emergency evacuation plan? My friend's parents just lost their whole barn to a fire and let me tell you, that is one scary thing!

Horse people are ridiculously cliquey sometimes, so don't be surprised if at any point a ton of people leave that barn for some reason or other either. But take note of why and keep a lookout.

pretty much all of this - I wouldn't run on the hay thing if it was a modern barn but I can understand why someone would

[missyny]

Aug 24, 2012 15:29:39 GMT -5 @callmefia said:

Also, about the barn. Pay attention to how they treat the horses. A lot of times the kid barns are not really that great and the teachers are just pumping kids through without really teaching anything and while giving sub-par care to the horses. Note safety with the kids and horses too. They should require all children to wear a helmet (if not, RUN!). Horses shouldn't have lots of visible cuts, bruises, scabbing etc. Note if there are a lot of flies - where is the manure pile, is it kept away from the barn? Are the stalls relatively clean and well bedded? Do you see ribs on a lot of horses (don't get too upset, some horses carry weight differently, but pay attention in general are they ALL skinny?). Where do they store the hay - is it in the same barn the horses are kept? Sometimes thats a big fire risk. Do they have fire extinguishers nearby and handy? You should know and be prepared to operate one. What is the emergency evacuation plan? My friend's parents just lost their whole barn to a fire and let me tell you, that is one scary thing!

Horse people are ridiculously cliquey sometimes, so don't be surprised if at any point a ton of people leave that barn for some reason or other either. But take note of why and keep a lookout.

WOW! Great info!
I think the barn we have been at all weeks seems great, as far as all of this goes. I never saw any manure, but the flies were kinda ick. It's super hot outside today, though. (87) The kids wore helmets and boots all week. It seems very strict, as I saw the older girls all in uniform.
is there a rule about being quiet and not talking? They were walking their horses into the barn/stable.

I'm not kidding. I was wondering b/c nobody was saying hello to me when I walked passed!??

[missyny]

Aug 24, 2012 15:30:32 GMT -5 Amy said:

I had a couple of horse with various trainers and was on the road 2-3 weekends a month all over the country competing - I was president of the national association I was part of so I was super involved - it was intense - I could never begin to afford it for my kid now

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is truly AMAZING!!!!

[Amy]

Aug 24, 2012 15:34:35 GMT -5 missyny said:

Aug 24, 2012 15:30:32 GMT -5 Amy said:

I had a couple of horse with various trainers and was on the road 2-3 weekends a month all over the country competing - I was president of the national association I was part of so I was super involved - it was intense - I could never begin to afford it for my kid now

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is truly AMAZING!!!!

Aw thanks it was fun (and how I met my husband) it started as physical therapy for me (I've had arthritis since I was 2) but since my mom had shown her whole life it escalated quickly haha

[missyny]

callmefia, that is really impressive! I'm so intrigued by it all, but being perfectly honest? There is no way our family will be buying a horse. I know leasing happens, but can't you just take lessons and ride the barn's horses while training? My daughter is just totally in love with this activity, but... yeah, hello $$$$$. She dances, too, so that already costs money as well. We have two other kids. If i set the bar this high right off the bat, lol... we are SCREWWWWWWWED when they get older and all want to do several expensive things!

[Amy]

Aug 24, 2012 15:44:58 GMT -5 missyny said:

callmefia, that is really impressive! I'm so intrigued by it all, but being perfectly honest? There is no way our family will be buying a horse. I know leasing happens, but can't you just take lessons and ride the barn's horses while training? My daughter is just totally in love with this activity, but... yeah, hello $$$$$. She dances, too, so that already costs money as well. We have two other kids. If i set the bar this high right off the bat, lol... we are SCREWWWWWWWED when they get older and all want to do several expensive things!

I think knowing you want to only work towards leasing is perfect! I would just ask what the older/advanced riders in the barn do - if she were to stick with it, she's going to want to be able to do what her peers are doing, so a barn that has lots of lesson horses and older students who still lease or just take lessons and show in the local area is perfect! (If you can find a good one) - it will be such a great thing for her!

[Amy]

:and back to lurking:

[tulip]

I rode Western & worked at the stables to help pay for my lessons. Not all stables do this but some will. I know very little about English riding but for me I became friendly with owners of some of the boarded horses.

They usually would let me enter their horse in a rodeo that they weren't riding in or that horse. This way I got to ride & it would help them get a horse noticed if they wanted to sell/breed.

I loved riding Western but was always jealous of English. It was wasn't that common where I was raised.

She will have the time of her life.

[missyny]

Thank you, everyone in here, for all of the replies!!